Mike Moritz Sequoia

.docx, .doc, .xls, .ppt … – if you regularly work with Microsoft’s Office programs, you will come across many file extensions again and again. Especially the first two extensions are familiar to many, but is a .docx file really the same as a .doc file? And what does the extension .docx stand for anyway? Table of Contents

What is a .docx file and what does the extension stand for?
What are the differences between .doc and .docx?
Which programs open .docx files?
How do I save a .docx file?

What is a .docx file and what does it stand for?

A .docx file, just like a document with the extension .doc, is a Microsoft Word text document. With the release of Word version 2007, the format was introduced as a new standard for text documents. The goal was to create an XML-based file format which requires less storage space. The name “docx” is a combination of the already known .doc extension and the “X” from XML. By the way, the development of the file format is similar for other Microsoft Office programs: For example, the old Excel format .xls became the newer .xlsx format.

What are the differences between .doc and .docx?

The biggest difference between the two file extensions .doc and .docx is the formatting or the way the file information is stored. A .docx file behaves like a ZIP archive, which stores the content (text and images) in XML and CSS data and then and then compressed. When the .docx file is opened, the contents are unpacked again. Overall, both the saving and starting process of a .docx file is faster and significantly less space is required per file. What may not make such a significant difference today was much more relevant when it was introduced in 2007 – for example, when sending files via email. Whether or when you save a file as .doc or as .docx depends largely on the program or program version with which you want to open the file.

Which programs open .docx files?

Basically, you can open a .docx file with the following programs:

Microsoft Word
OpenOffice
LibreOffice
Google Docs
Word Viewer

In principle, however, it depends on the version, especially with Microsoft Word: From Word 2007 on, there are no problems at all when opening a .docx file. Older versions like Word 2000 or 2003 cannot open this format, unless you install the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack. However, due to the different formatting, a .docx document may not display properly even after the extension is installed. By the way, the same applies the other way around: If you open an older .doc file in Word 2007 or higher, you may experience an incorrect display for particularly complex text files such as merged Word documents with many images and formatting.

How to save a .docx file?

Since .docx has been defined as the default in Word since 2007, you don’t have to pay much attention when saving a file. However, to make sure that you really save your document as a .docx file, check in the menu “File” -> “Save as…” the specified format in the drop-down selection “File format“. There should be “Word document (.docx)” should be selected. Tip If you want to save a document in an older Word version, e.g. to open it on another computer, you will also find the older file format .doc (“Word 97-2003 document”) in the drop-down selection. Related articles Convert Word files to PDFs: Here’s how! If you want to send a Word document or prepare it for printing, it is advisable to convert the Word file to PDF format first. This way you can be sure that nothing will change in the formatting of the document – and others will not be able to change it easily afterwards. For a simple conversion, the corresponding save function in Word is often sufficient. But special… Convert Word files to PDFs: This is how! What is a .md file and how can a .md file be opened? By looking at the file extension you know whether it is a PDF file or an image file. But if you are unfamiliar with the specified format, uncertainty easily arises. Many users are also unfamiliar with the .md file extension. We explain what an .md file is and present free programs to open and edit it for Windows and macOS. What is a .md file and how to open a .md file? How to determine the appropriate file format for your PowerPoint presentation © yelivdesign – stock.adobe.com

What are file formats in PowerPoint and how you can easily recognize them
Special Knowledge: The open xml file format offers you numerous advantages in PowerPoint.
How to easily save your presentation file in PowerPoint in the file format of your choice
What are the most important file formats in PowerPoint and how do you use them?
Digression: How macros automatically relieve you of repetitive tasks
Under which PowerPoint-related file formats can you save your PowerPoint presentations?
Digression: Special file formats and file extensions in PowerPoint
Times change – and presentations with them
Expert tip: How to delete personal information from file properties

As a PowerPoint user, you have noticed when saving your presentation that, in addition to the standard presentation format .pptx there are a number of other file formats available for selection in PowerPoint. These are represented by special File extensionssuch as .ppt, .potx, .pdf, .xml or .mp4 in PowerPoint. In the following article we will give you practical solutions how to easily adapt your presentations to technological advancements. We

explain what file formats are in PowerPoint and how you can easily recognize them by their file extensions and use them in practice,
tell you about important advantages of open xml file formats in our excursus,
show you how to select the file format when saving your presentation,
give you knowledge about the most common file formats for PowerPoint and
give you an overview of special file formats that are supported in PowerPoint.

In addition, our expert tip will teach you how to delete personal information from file properties. With this knowledge, you can work with the latest technology and avoid version conflicts and mishaps.

What are file formats in PowerPoint and how can you easily recognize them?

Given the abundance of options for saving your presentation file, you’ve probably already asked yourself the following questions: What are file formats in PowerPoint and which one is most suitable for my presentation? What is the meaning of the file extensions “x” and “m” in PowerPoint? In the following section we will answer your questions in an understandable way. Simply explained, the file format determines what kind of file, image presentation, video presentation or style sheet your presentation is and what program you will use to start it automatically after double-clicking on it. The file format is identified by the file extensionalso called file extension, which is a group of three or four characters at the end of a file name after the dot, such as .pptx, .potx, .pdf or .mp4.

Important: All file formats of PowerPoint itself contain the letter combination .ppt or .pot. All other file formats stand for formats outside of PowerPoint.
The “x” (for example .pptx, .potx) at the end of a PowerPoint file format stands for Office Open xml enabled documents. Office Open xml is an open standard for office applications developed by Microsoft to ensure file exchange between different Office versions.
The “m” (for example .pptm, .potm) is supplementary a characteristic for containing VBA code (Visual Basic for applications under Windows), in the case of PowerPoint these are recorded and/or automated operations and command sequences, also called Markos.

Special knowledge: The Open-xml file format offers you numerous advantages in PowerPoint

Compressed files The Open-xml file format uses ZIP compression technology to store documents. Files are automatically compressed and in some cases are up to 75 percent smaller. It offers you potential cost savings, since it reduces the storage space required and decreases the bandwidth needed to send your files. Files are automatically unzipped when opened and automatically compressed again when saved. You don’t need to install special ZIP utilities to open and close files in Office.
Improved recovery of damaged files Files are modular, so different data components are separated from each other in a file. This allows you to open files even if one component in the file is damaged.
Improved privacy and control over personal data Documents can be shared confidentially. Personal information and business-related information such as author names, comments, tracked changes, and file paths can be easily identified and removed using document review.
Easier recognition of documents with macros Files saved with the default “x” suffix (such as .pptx or .potx) cannot contain Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macros and xml macros. Only files whose file extensions end with an “m” (such as .ppsm, .potm, or .ppam) can contain macros in PowerPoint.

You’ve increased your knowledge of file formats, file extensions, and open-xml file formats in PowerPoint. In the following section you will learn how to save your presentation in your desired file format without much additional technical effort.

How to save your presentation file in PowerPoint in your desired file format without any complications

You want to save your presentation file as a template, slide show, image file or video? In addition to the standard presentation format .pptx, PowerPoint also offers you a number of other file formats with which you can easily implement your project. In the following section, we will show you how to select and save your file format in an uncomplicated way. Proceed as follows:

Click on the tab File click on Save as.
Under Recently Used Folders select the option Browse option.
Select the file folder and give your file a meaningful name.

In the list select the file type and the file format from the list. You can choose from the following common formats:

Assign a new file name and confirm your selection, e.g. as .pptx format, with Save.

You know how to easily save your presentation in a suitable file format in PowerPoint. in PowerPoint. In the following section you will learn which file formats you can use specifically for your presentation.

What are the most important file formats in PowerPoint and how do you use them?

The following requirements are probably familiar to you:

You want to share the presentation, but you don’t want the recipient to be able to change the slides.
You want to share a template – including master, text content, layout, formatting, slide backgrounds, color schemes, and defined design – for your colleagues to edit.
You want to automatically launch a presentation that contains macros when you open it during a lecture.

These are just a few examples of how file formats can help you in your work with PowerPoint. In the following section, we will explain which file extensions are particularly suitable for working with, presenting and sharing your presentation in PowerPoint.

When does it make sense to save your presentation in PowerPoint with the .pptx file extension?

When does it make sense to save your presentation in the default .pptx file format? © EvgeniyBobrov – stock.adobe.com Have you ever noticed the image presentation among the offered file types when saving your presentation? And did you wonder what it is used for – especially since at first glance you can hardly tell the difference from a normal presentation, because it also has the .pptx file extension in PowerPoint. In the next section we’ll explain why this format is so useful for you. .pptx is the standard presentation format of PowerPoint. The file extension .pptx means PowerPoint-Presentation-xmlwhich means a PowerPoint presentation in xml format. A .pptx file, like the outdated .ppt version, can contain formatted text, lists, images, videos, as well as music and Excel spreadsheets. In addition, this file format already uses the ZIP compression. Your benefit:

Your presentation can be easily shared in a compressed way and the recipient cannot modify the slides.
You can merge slides from multiple templates into one presentation unchanged and without the file containing multiple masters afterwards.
You avoid displaying symbols instead of texts if your font is not available on the presentation media.

Note .pptx files cannot be read by older PowerPoint versions.

What is the advantage of using the .potx file extension in PowerPoint?

You want to provide a style sheet for a new presentation for your colleagues? But you don’t know which file format serves this purpose best. In the following section you will learn what advantage the file format .potx offers you and how you can easily save your presentation without any technical background. A potx file is an office open-xml based template for PowerPoint and the file extension is .potx. It contains data about the presentation layout, formatting, styles and other specifications.

Your advantage: You want to provide a template (including master, text content, layout, formatting, slide backgrounds, color schemes and defined design) for a presentation? Then this file format is the right one for you.

Note .potx files cannot contain macros. Files with macros are identified by the extension .potm extension.

How to quickly create a template in PowerPoint:

When saving your file, simply select under File type PowerPoint template (.potx) and you can share your template with your colleagues for further editing.

What makes the .pps file extension so special in PowerPoint for screen presentations?

Maybe someone emailed you a file with the .pps extension and you’re not sure what to do with it? We will help you and explain in the following section what special features a .pps file offers you. You will also learn how to easily save your file in .pps file format. At .pps file format is a PowerPoint slide show. The .pps format was PowerPoint’s default presentation format and has been improved by the new .ppsx file format.

Your benefit: You want the content of your presentation to appear instantly in the full screen presentation mode instead of the normal PowerPoint editing view, as is the case with the .pptx file? Then this file format is the perfect choice for you.

How to create a PowerPoint slide show quickly:

When saving your file, simply select under File Type PowerPoint 97-2003 slide show (.pps) and you can e-mail it to your colleagues for viewing. Note You can use .pps files to send presentations without allowing the recipient to edit or change the content. However, you should test your presentation in presentation mode to ensure that all transitions and animations are correct and that the automatic sequence does not stop unintentionally.

When is it advantageous to save your presentation with the .ppsx file extension in PowerPoint?

You want to self-run your PowerPoint presentation at a trade show event from another office application. You want your audience to be able to view it immediately as an on-screen presentation, rather than in edit view. How can you easily implement your plan in PowerPoint without technical expert knowledge? We will show you the solution in the following section. You will learn when it is useful to save your presentation in the .ppsx file format and how to do it easily. The file format .ppsx simply means PowerPoint presentation slide show xmlwhich means a PowerPoint presentation in the Office Open xml format. Thus, it ensures data exchange between different Office suites. The file format .ppsx is especially suitable to create self-starting presentations in the form of slide shows to create. In addition, the content of the presentation is immediately displayed in full screen presentation mode, instead of in the normal PowerPoint editing view. Your advantage: If you want to launch a self-launching presentation from another office application, the .ppsx file format will be of great use to you.

How to create your presentation quickly:

When saving your file, simply select under File type PowerPoint Screen Presentation (.ppsx) and you will be able to present your file automatically.

When is it useful to save your presentation with .ppsm file extension in PowerPoint?

You want to emphasize your technical competence to your superiors at a team meeting by a self-starting slide presentation controlled by macros? This is also possible with the appropriate file format. In the following section, we will show you how you can easily implement your project in PowerPoint, even without technical expert knowledge. You will learn from us when it is useful to save your presentation in the file format .ppsm and how you can easily implement it. With the file format .ppsm file format is the latest version of the PowerPoint .pps file format. The .ppsm file format stands for a self-running slide presentationthat includes pre-approved macros to provide a ready-to-use presentation for on-screen demonstration. In addition, the content of your presentation can be instantly played back in full-screen presentation mode using the free PowerPoint viewer as well as the full version of PowerPoint. Your benefitIf your presentation has macros and you want to run them on your own, the .ppsm file format will be of great use to you.

How to save your PowerPoint presentation with macros easily with .ppsm file extension in PowerPoint:

When you save your file, simply choose under File Type PowerPoint slide show with macros (.ppsm) when saving your file. This way you start your presentation automatically in full screen mode and let all macros run in the background.

Digression: How macros automatically relieve you of repetitive tasks

Unlike .ppsx files, files with the .ppsm extension contain macros that are executed by PowerPoint. Macros work similarly to scripts in PowerPoint, allowing you to automate repetitive tasks. Note You can create macros using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) from the View tab. You have gained extensive knowledge about technological advancements and the specific use of file formats for your presentation. You’ve noticed that there are a number of other PowerPoint-related file formats to choose from and would like to learn more about them? In the following section we will provide you with technical knowledge about it.

Under which PowerPoint-related file formats can you still save your PowerPoint presentations?

Are you looking for a special file format that helps you to convert slides of your presentation into images? Or do you want to send your presentation as a handout via e-mail? In the following section we suggest file formats for your specific needs.

PDF file format

You simply want to share your presentation as a handout and e-mail it to your audience. We offer you a simple solution: save your file in PDF file format. The advantages of this format are explained in the following section. The PDF file format is a fixed-layout electronic file format that preserves the formatting of the document. The format is identified by the .pdf file extension in PowerPoint. Through this file format, file sharing is made easy. In addition, the .pdf file format ensures that a file retains its intended format when the file is viewed online or printed. You can learn how to do this in our post: How to insert a PDF file into your PowerPoint presentation . Note PDF files do not provide reliable protection against modification. PDF files can be edited with the full version of Adobe Acrobat and even with Word 2016. In addition, a PDF file is a rather unsuitable format for presentations: it is often unclear how a PDF can be displayed as a full screen.

Image file formats: How to create slide content in the form of images in PowerPoint

You want to save a certain slide from your PowerPoint presentation as a JPEG file to insert it as an image into your website? We’ll tell you which three file formats specifically help you do that. JPG: This file format supports 16 million colors and is best for photos and complex graphics. The JPG format is identified by the .jpg”Portable Network Graphics.” The PNG format is identified by the .pdf file extension in PowerPoint. Just like JPEG files, the format can display up to 16 million colors, but can be compressed almost lossless. PNG is among the most popular file formats that support transparent backgrounds. GIF: The file format is suitable for images with low color depth and small animations. The GIF format is identified by the .gif file extension in PowerPoint. Since GIF files can only display 256 colors, they sometimes reach even smaller file sizes than JPEG files.

Excursus: Special file formats and file extensions in PowerPoint

You want to save your presentation in a way that it can be opened in presentation applications like Google.docs or openoffice.org? Then you have come to the right place. In this section we will provide you with knowledge about the use and benefits of special file formats and file extensions in PowerPoint.

File type	Extension	Use
MPEG-4 video Windows Media Video	.mp4 .wmv	A file with the .mp4 or .wmv extension in PowerPoint is a presentation saved as a video that plays on many media players.
PowerPoint 97-2003 presentation	.ppt	A presentation that you can open in PowerPoint 97 with Office PowerPoint 2003.
Document Format	.xps	.xps is a format-fixed file format from Microsoft that displays and prints the file true to format on all devices.
PowerPoint 97-2003 draft template	.pot	A file with the .pot file extension is a PowerPoint draft template. Note: obsolete version of .potx
PowerPoint draft template with macros	.potm	A file with the .potm extension in PowerPoint is a draft template that contains pre-approved macros.
Office design	.thmx	.thmx is a standalone office design file.
PowerPoint add-in	.ppam	A file with the extension .ppam is an add-in with custom commands for your slides in PowerPoint.
PowerPoint 97-2003 add-in	.ppa	A file with the extension .ppa- is an add-in for slide presentations from PowerPoint 97 to 2003.
Tag image file format	.tif	A slide as a graphic for use on web pages.
Windows Metafile	.wmf	A slide as a 16-bit graphic (for use with Microsoft Windows 3.x and later).
Windows extended metafile	.emf	A slide as a 32-bit graphic (for use with Microsoft Windows 95 and later).
OpenDocument presentation	.odp	You can save your file with the .odp extension in PowerPoint so that it can be opened in presentation applications that use the OpenDocument presentation format. These include Google.docs and openoffice.org, for example.

Times are changing – and presentations with them

Gone are the days when the .ppt and .pot file formats were still considered the standard for PowerPoint. In the meantime, there is a whole range of file formats that specifically support you in your work with PowerPoint. The file format is characterized by the file extension, also called File-Extension, a group of three or four characters at the end of a file name after the dot, such as .pptx, .potx, .pdf or .mp4. Technological advancements, such as the open-xml format, also offer new ways to connect, control, optimize and target Office applications. In our article we have shown you simple solutions to easily adapt your presentations to technological advancements. Times are also changing for video formats. Video formats are not immune to technological advancements. In our practical tip How to use video formats skilfully, we provide you with added-value knowledge about this. We hope you enjoyed this article and that we were able to provide you with value-added know-how based on proven examples and tips. If you have any questions or suggestions for new topics, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you. Learn in another article how you can specifically protect objects from changes with the new “Lock” command.

Expert tip: How to delete personal information from file properties

As a PowerPoint user, are you open to new ideas and helpful tools? Then you’ve come to the right place. Every month we present you helpful examples, special tips and interesting excursions around PowerPoint. Do you have special questions about PowerPoint that no article has been able to answer so far? We’ll be happy to help you and support you with “answers from the experts”. Your editorial team Question: When I share presentations that I have edited, I no longer want my name to appear in the file properties. Via the path File → Information → Properties → Advanced Properties this does not work reliably. Do you know a solution? Response: You can easily get all personal information from the file properties via File → Information → Check for problems → Check document Remove. You can remove all personal information from the file properties simply by choosing File → Information → Check for problems → Check document. In the Check Document dialog box, you remove unwanted display information However, this has a disadvantage: no personal information will be stored in the file from now on, even for subsequent editors. Here is an alternative:

Open the Windows Explorer and change to the folder with your presentation.
Right-click on the file and select the command Properties command.

In the dialog box switch to the tab Details.
Click at the bottom on Remove properties and personal information.

Another dialog box opens Remove properties.
Activate the option Remove the following properties from this file.

Now set Check for all properties that should be removed.

Mike Moritz Sequoia.